Chapter 3 The Pack's Secret

The morning after her encounter with Kevin, Scarlett couldn't shake the feeling that everything had shifted. The kiss still lingered on her lips, an almost tangible memory that wouldn't fade, no matter how hard she tried to push it away. But the kiss wasn't what haunted her. It was the promise in his eyes-the promise that he wasn't done with her. That they weren't finished.

And that terrified her.

She sat at the edge of her bed, staring out the window of her private quarters in the pack's estate. The city stretched out before her, but her gaze wasn't on the view. It was on the reflection in the glass-her own, but somehow distant, as if she were looking at a stranger.

The truth was simple: she had always known this day would come. A day when the war between the Blackstone Pack and the Cain Syndicate would bring her face to face with Kevin in a way she couldn't ignore. But she hadn't prepared herself for how much she wanted him-or how hard it would be to resist him.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She straightened, quickly wiping away the traces of vulnerability that had crept into her expression. "Come in," she called, her voice steady.

The door opened, and her father, Alpha Marcus Jones, stepped into the room. His presence filled the space, as it always did. He was a formidable man-tall, broad-shouldered, with the weight of leadership etched into every line of his face. His eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Scarlett with an intensity that made her stomach twist.

"You've been avoiding me," he said, his tone low but firm. "Is there a reason for that?"

Scarlett stood up, smoothing down her dress with a practiced calmness. "I've been busy, Father," she replied. But even as she said it, she knew the excuse wouldn't fly with him.

Marcus stepped closer, his gaze never wavering. "Busy with what? This war with the Cain Syndicate is not some passing distraction. Your loyalty is being tested, Scarlett."

Her heart skipped a beat. She had expected this. Her father never hesitated to remind her of her duties to the pack, and with the rising tension between the Blackstone Pack and the Cain Syndicate, her role was more crucial than ever. But this wasn't just about loyalty anymore. It was about Kevin. About the dangerous connection they shared.

"I haven't forgotten my duties," Scarlett said, her voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling inside her. "But I have to ask, Father... is everything as it seems?"

Marcus raised an eyebrow, his expression sharpening. "What do you mean?"

Scarlett hesitated, unsure if she should push further, but something in her gut told her she needed to know. "The Cain Syndicate isn't just some rival organization, is it? You've been keeping secrets about them... about Kevin."

For a moment, her father didn't respond. He just watched her with that calculating gaze, his lips pressed in a thin line. Then, he finally spoke, his voice tight with something Scarlett couldn't quite place.

"You have no idea what you're asking, Scarlett," he said slowly. "The Cain Syndicate is more than a rival. It's a threat. And Kevin Cain... he's not just another criminal. He's a force. A dangerous force."

Scarlett's pulse quickened. "What are you saying? You've known him for years. You knew he was coming for us."

Her father's eyes darkened, his expression hardening into something colder. "There's more to this than you realize. Kevin Cain isn't just a mafia boss-he's connected to our past in ways you can't understand. To your mother..."

The mention of her mother sent a jolt through Scarlett. Her mother had died when she was just a child, and her father rarely spoke of her. She had always assumed it was too painful for him to discuss, but now, hearing his words, something felt off.

"What do you mean?" Scarlett demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.

Marcus hesitated, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he masked it with his usual stoicism. "Your mother had a connection to the Cain family, Scarlett. A connection I never wanted you to find out about."

Scarlett took a step back, her mind reeling. She had always known there were secrets surrounding her mother's death, but this-this was something else entirely. Her entire world suddenly felt like it was unraveling, the foundation beneath her feet shifting in ways she couldn't control.

"You've been keeping secrets about my mother?" Scarlett's voice trembled with a mixture of anger and confusion. "What does that have to do with Kevin?"

Her father's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "It has everything to do with Kevin. Your mother's past, her connections, they were all tied to the Cain family. And now, Kevin is here, looking for answers... and for you."

Scarlett felt the ground beneath her feet slip away, and she struggled to keep her composure. This was more than a war between two families. It was a war between bloodlines, between the past and the present.

"And what do you want me to do?" she whispered, feeling a weight settle in her chest.

Marcus' expression softened for a moment, his gaze flickering with something almost resembling regret. "I want you to stay loyal to the pack. To your family. I need you, Scarlett. I don't want you getting caught up in this... in him."

Scarlett's heart hammered in her chest. She wanted to resist, wanted to say that she couldn't be controlled, that Kevin was pulling her in ways her father didn't understand. But all she could do was nod, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll do my duty, Father."

But in her heart, Scarlett knew that this wasn't over. Kevin was already too close, and the secrets her father had buried were only making things more complicated.